KitchenAid 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Mixers and Must-Have Add-Ons

Best for
First stand mixer for home bakers

The KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart K45SS is the classic KitchenAid 4.5 qt tilt-head mixer. It has metal construction, 10 speeds from a gentle stir to speed 8 for whipping cream, and 59 touchpoints around the bowl for thorough mixing. The tilt-head design gives access to the bowl and locks in place while mixing.

The 4.5-quart stainless steel bowl is dishwasher safe and, according to KitchenAid, handles up to 8 dozen cookies in a single batch using the flat beater and 28 g of dough each. The box includes a coated flat beater, a coated dough hook and a 6-wire whip. It works with more than 10 optional hub-powered attachments, sold separately, for pasta, burgers, veggie noodles, ice cream and more. The warranty is 1 year limited. The listing does not give wattage, and one feature line refers to model K455, a typo for K45SS.

The KitchenAid Classic K45SS suits first-time stand mixer owners and bakers who make cookies, cakes and frosting for game nights. If you want more power and more mixing points, the KSM85 is the step up. For bigger batches, our guide to the KitchenAid stand mixer 5 quart models covers the next size.

• 4.5 qt stainless bowl, dishwasher safe
• 10 speeds, 59 touchpoints
• Coated flat beater, coated dough hook, 6-wire whip
• 1 year limited warranty

The KitchenAid 4.5 Quart KSM85PBER, Empire Red is the KitchenAid KSM85PB in red. It runs at 300 watts with a 10-speed slide control from a very fast whip to a very slow stir. Metal gears, a direct drive transmission and 67-point planetary mixing action help mix ingredients without frequent scraping or rotating the bowl.

The tilt-head design gives clear access to the beater and bowl, and special features listed include adjustable speed control, a removable bowl and a safety lock. It includes a 4.5-quart bowl, a 6-wire whip, a dough hook and a flat beater. The listing does not describe the bowl material, whether the beater and hook are coated, or the warranty, and it has no description text.

This suits bakers who want more mixing points than the Classic and a mixer that stands out on the counter. Functionally it matches the black version below.

• 300 watts, 10-speed slide control
• 67-point planetary mixing action
• Metal gears and direct drive

The KitchenAid 4.5 Quart KSM85PBOB, Onyx Black is the same KSM85 in black. The features are identical: 300 watts, 10-speed slide control, tilt-head design, metal gears, direct drive transmission and 67-point planetary mixing action. It includes a 4.5-quart bowl, 6-wire whip, dough hook and flat beater.

This listing adds the description that the red listing lacks: up to 8 dozen cookies in a batch using the flat beater with 28 g of dough each, 10 speeds to knead, mix and whip, and compatibility with more than 10 optional hub-powered attachments sold separately. Since the two KSM85 listings share part number KSM85, it is reasonable to expect that description applies to both colors.

Pick onyx black for a darker kitchen or a setup that matches black gaming gear. If color does not matter, choose whichever KSM85 listing suits you.

Best for
Less bowl scraping during mixing

It replaces the flat beater with one that has flexible silicone edges, so it scrapes the sides of the bowl while mixing. That cuts the stop-and-scrape routine that interrupts every batch of cookie dough.

Cowbright lists compatibility with 4.5 and 5-quart tilt-head models including the K45SS, KSM1, KSM100, KSM120, KSM15, KSM16, KSM75, KSM8 and KSM90. The KSM85 is not named in that list, so check fit if you own one. It has a metal construction with food-grade silicone edges and suits light to medium-heavy mixtures like cookies, quick breads, cheesecake, frosting and mashed potatoes. It weighs 6.7 ounces.

This flex edge beater for KitchenAid 4.5 suits anyone who bakes often and hates scraping. It is not for heavy bread dough, which is the dough hook’s job.

• Silicone edges scrape the bowl
• Fits K45SS and listed tilt-head models
• Metal core

Best for
Mixers stored under cabinets

The SIUDANGKA Mixer Slider Mat for KitchenAid 4.5 Qt is a third-party accessory made by SIUDANGKA. It is an acrylic tray with small round sliders underneath, shaped to support a KitchenAid 4.5-quart tilt-head base, so you can push the mixer back under a cabinet and pull it forward to use it.

The listing says the acrylic top easily bears the mixer’s weight and that sliding instead of dragging helps reduce countertop scratches. The package measures about 13.2 by 9.3 by 0.4 inches and weighs 11.3 ounces. SIUDANGKA asks buyers to verify their mixer model and base dimensions before ordering.

This KitchenAid mixer slider mat suits kitchens where the mixer lives under upper cabinets and needs to come forward so the head can tilt. If your mixer sits in open space, you may not need it.

The Duesu Silicone Splash Guard for 4.5-5 Qt Mixers is a third-party accessory; the brand appears as both Duesu and Duseu in the listing. It combines a 360-degree splash guard with a large angled pour chute, so you can add flour, eggs and sugar while the mixer runs without spraying the counter.

It is food-grade silicone, dishwasher safe and elastic enough to stay fitted during mixing. The listing names the KitchenAid 4.5QT tilt-head, 5QT tilt-head, 5HD bowl-lift and 5Plus bowl-lift mixers as compatible, plus same-size bowls in other materials.

This KitchenAid splash guard suits flour-heavy recipes like bread, pizza dough and cookies. For a bigger mixer, see our KitchenAid mixer 5 quart guide.